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(No Model.)

F. H. CUTLER, DESK.

No 505,595. 4 Patented Sept. 25, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED H. CUTLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,595, dated September 26,1893.

Application filed August 9, 1892.

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED H. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in desks and consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the upper portion of a desk showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view, enlarged, of one of my improved pigeon-hole covers. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the desk pigeon-holes and its cover. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cover shown in Fig. 2.

A represents a desk of any usual or ordinary general construction, having its top a provided with a series of pigeon holes. In the drawings I have shown the top a provided with an upper and lower row of pigeon holes a a and a central space a in each row not divided into pigeon holes, but the pigeon holes may extend the entire length of each row if desired.

Along the upper and lower edges of each row of pigeon holes is a grooved strip and where there are two rows of pigeon holes one above the other the central longitudinal partition will ordinarily be provided with a single strip 12 having a groove on its upper, and also on its lower side as shown in Fig. 3, while the upper and lower strips 1) b will have a single groove on their lower and upper faces respectively. 7

I provide a series of closing covers B one for each pigeon hole which consists of a thin rectangular piece of wood or other material mounted in the grooves of the strips 1) b 12 Serial No. 442,537- (No model.)

and adapted to slide horizontally therein.

These covers serve to protect the contents of the pigeon holes from dust and also to keep them private and not exposed to public view. When it is desired to have access to any one of the pigeon holes, it is only necessary to place the finger upon its cover and move it toward the center of the desk. The cover will slide easily in its grooved supports and will of course move with it all the covers between it and the center of the desk. When it is desired to close the pigeon hole again, the finger will be placed on the cover nearest the center, andall the covers will be moved toward the end of the desk, the distance required to close the open pigeon hole. ,When the pigeon holes extend the entire width of the desk, it is necessary to leave one pigeon hole in each row uncovered to allow the covers of the others to be moved one space toward the center to uncover their respective pigeon hole, as will be readily understood.

Each cover B may be provided with a stifiening plate 0 if desired, and said plate will preferably have a flange or lip c at its lower edge as shown to support an indicator card D for indicating the contents of the pigeon hole,'which may be further secured in place by means of tacks or pins 0' c as indicated in the drawings or other preferred means. The lip c and pins 0 c I term card retaining devices and they will preferably be so arranged that the indicator card may be slipped beneath the heads of the pins 0' c and into engagement with the lip c and removed therefrom at pleasure. It will be seen that as the sliding covers B move in horizontal ways, or slides no fastening devices are needed to keep them in any particular place. They will remain in any position into which they are moved.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make covers for pigeon holes arranged in the vertical series with a fastening device for each separate cover to hold the cover or covers above the compartment desired to be kept open for the time being. This I do not claim.

My invention is designed as an improvement on the construction just recited, and I avoid the necessity of lifting the entire weight of ion intermediate the ends of the desk whereby each series can be moved a distance equal to the width of a single pigeon hole, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED H. CUTLER.

Witnesses:

SILAs J. DOUGLASS, HYDE H. CLARK. 

